Electrical time controlled release actuator



April 29,1947. R, sABoR 2,419,659

ELECTRICAL TIME CONTROLLED RELEASE ACTUATOR Filed Feb. 3, 1945 IN VENTOR.

Fromm Patented Apr. 29, 1947 ELECTRICAL TIME CONTROLLED RELEASEACTUATOR.

Russell Sabor, Minneapolis, Minn. Applieationliebruary 3, 19.45;,Serial; No. 576,073

(oust-ii 8- Claims.

This invention relates to-electrically operated, time controlled.mechanism for retaining and releasingvario-us mechanical devices.

Itis an object of my present invention to providea comparatively simple,compact andhighly eilicient mechanism controlled and operated by anelectrical motor for momentarily retracting and; releasing aretainingelement. such as a bolt or latch member at the end of' apredetermined time-period.

A further object isthe provision of mechanism of the class described:wherein the timing mechanismwill be set or started through closing. of amotor circuit by mechanical action of the device which it controls whensaid device is normally operated to be positioned in one of a pluralityofpredetermined positions.

More specifically, it is an object to provide an electrical, timecontrolled retaining and release actuator adapted to retain a movabledevice in a predetermined position for a predetermined" time and adaptedto, release such device for moving or shifting, of position or operationand adapted to be started or set for timing operation by the movement ofthe associated device in one of its operation stages.

My improved mechanism is adapted to be Wide- 1y used in controlling theoperation or actuation of various; mechanical devices where release orunlocking ofa movable member isdesired or where a movable member isurged by power means in onedirection and time controlled mechanism isdesired for retaining said movable member for a predetermined time,before release; for power actuation.

improved mechanism comprises essentiallyareleasable retaining memberadapted to be mechanically retracted by camming or wedge action andnormally urged to. protracted retaining position in combination with amotor-driven actuating element movable through a revolution or othercycle of operation, to momentarily retract said retaining member and tosimultaneously. open the motor circuit at the end of a predeterminedtimeperiod.

The foregoing objects and advantages of my invention will be moreapparent from the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to thesame parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal cross section through an embodiment of myimproved mechanism 100k! ingupwardly from the bottom of' the device;

Fig. 2v is a vertical sectiontaken diagonally through one end of thecasing of the device and showing the-retaining element in protractedpositionwith the actuatingelement having just completed itstripping andretraction of the retainin element; 1

Fig. 3 isa somewhat diagrammatic View illustrating the type of two-cycleswitch employed and the-diagram ofthe electrical circuit; and

Fig. i is a somewhat diagrammatical tol plan View showingmy mechanismapplied o a foldi-ng section-al door actuated for closing, by torsionalsprin s:

In the; form of my invention illustrated, the working mechanism is verycompactly arranged mounted'within a box-like casing 6 having aremovablebottom plate to provided with a rear wall 6b having projectingattachment flanges at the lateral ends thereof.

A motor M: is rigidly mounted by attachment brackets I to one of theinside walls of housing G- having its armature shaft as shown, disposeddiagonally of the top Wall of the casing and the power take-off end ofsaid armature shaft is extendedinto. a gear reduction housing 8 Which asshown. is fixed by a pair of rigidly attached brackets 9 tea diagonallydisposed mounting plate i=0; having angled attachment feet, [to and iilbrespectively which may be welded or otherwise securedto one of the endwalls and the rear wall or? casing; 6. Suitable transmission mechanismcomprising preferably reduction gears (not shown) are mounted within thetransmission or gear reduction housing 8 driven by the armature shaft ofmotor M and the last gear of the train having fixed thereto, anactuating shaft H- which projects; as shown, from the face of the gearhousing opposite from motor M.

A retractable retaining element, 12 in the form of a sliding latch boltextends as shOWn, perpendicularly to the bottom 6a of the casing andspaced a short distance from the end of actuating shaft H. Retainingbolt I2 is slidably mounted ina sleeve I3 which as shown, is exterior-1yscrew threaded at its inner end for connection with a cup-shaped, memberM which closes the inner end of sleeve and acts as an abutment for acoil protraction spring i 5 surrounding the diminished inner portion orshank 12a of the retaining bolt and having its outer end reactingagainst the annular shoulder provided by the head of bolt 52. SleeveIt;v may be conveniently formed from an integral platecylindricallybent, at its medial portion to. provide the sleeve. and havingout-turned attachment strips 13a which may be welded or otherwise; fixedto the diagonal mounting plate i0.

Retaining bolt I2 has fixed to the inner end or shank thereof, across-arm I6 disposed parallel with the axis of actuating shaft II. Thiscrossarm I6 is preferably constructed of circular cross-section in theform of a rigid pin or rod and is positioned in the path or orbit of anactuator arm Ila, rigidly affixed to the outer end of actuating shaft IIand extending radially thereof.

A two-cycle, tumbler actuated, electrical switch, designated as anentirety by the letter S is mounted rearwardly of the mounting plateIll, fixed to the central portion of a Z-shap'ed bracket H, the feet ofwhich are connected respectively to mounting plate II! and the rear wall61) of the casing. The type of switch illustrated, which is quiteconventional, has an elongated tumbler arm or lever I3 pivoted forreciprocating swinging along an axis extending perpendicularly toretaining bolt I2. underlies the tumbler arm I8 of the switch and isrigidly connected with the inner end of retaining bolt I2 as shown bydirect connection with the cross-arm I6 fixed to the inner end of boltI2. The switch operating tumbler arm I 8 thus rides the switch actuatingarm I9 and a torsion spring disposed within the switch constructionurges tumbler arm I8 downwardly against the actuating arm I9.

In Fig. 3 a satisfactory type of conventional two-cycle switch isillustrated, the View being a plan view with the top of the switch boxremoved. The switch as shown, comprises the tumbler or lever arm I8,pivoted to the box or frame of the switch and having a circular portionprovided with four circumferentially spaced, lug engaging, arcuateslots. Mounted below the circular portion of the tumbler lever I8 is aspanning contact disc 2| having diagrammatically opposed spaced,depending contacts 2Ib at its lower side, adapted to engage fixedcontacts 22, mounted on the block of the switch. The disc 2| alsocarries a pair of upstanding lugs Zia which are adapted to engage thearcuate slots Isa of the tumbler lever member and to be actuated therebyfor progressing the disc, through one cycle in each reciprocatingmovement of the tumbler lever I8. Thus, the spanning contacts Zlbcomplete a circuit in one cycle of movement by wiping engagement withthe fixed contacts 22 and in the next cycle of operation are disposed ata position of 90 degrees from the circuit making position and do notengage any contacts.

The circuit, as illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 3 includes themotor M and an electric lamp L, for illuminating purposes which isconnected in parallel with the motor and switch, this lamp being mountedin a suitable socket 23, fixed to the front wall of casing 6.

Operation From the foregoing description, it will be seen that when theretaining bolt I2 is cammed by mechanical action or otherwise inwardly,into retracted position, the switch actuating arm I9 swings the tumblerlever I8 during such retraction, thereby progressing the disc ZI through90 degrees and thereby, closes the circuit through.

A switch actuating arm I9 of operation of shaft II, the actuating orstriker arm I Ia engages the cross shaft or pin It at the inner end ofretaining bolt, lifting the same and thereby again retracting theretaining bolt, and in so doing, again actuating the tumbler lever I8 ofthe switch and thereby breaking the circuit through the motor and lampat the time the retaining bolt is released.

It will thus be seen that the initial retraction of bolt I2 sets themechanism in operation and that the device is timed for a predeterminedperiod to leave the bolt in its protracted or retaining position and tothereafter, momentarily retract the bolt and break the circuit.

The. uses of my improved mechanism are of course, manifold the devicebeing in general adapted for any use where it is desired to release aretaining-element or latch after a predetermined time interval from thesetting of the device.

In Fig. 4 one particular use of the device is il lustrated in connectionwith the closing opera.. tion of a garage door. Fig. 4 is a somewhatdiagrammatical plan view taken just above the upper edge of aconventional type of two-sectional, collapsible folding door. The lefthand door section 25 is hinged at its vertical edge to the jam of thedoorway and a strong torsion spring 26 is disposed vertically with oneof its ends fixed to the doorway and the other end fixed to the marginaledge of the door whereby the spring is tensioned in the open swinging ofthe door to thereafter exert an influence to close the door. The outerdoor section 21 is hinged to the first section 2-5 by suitable hingeelements 28 and has, adjacent its free edge, an upstanding element orstrap carrying a small roller 21a which is adapted to ride a horizontaltrack 29 disposed inwardly of and slightly above the upper edge of thedoor, said track diverging at its inner end to guide the marginal edgeof section 21 so-that folding action of the door takes place inconventional manner when the outer section 27 is slid inwardly towardthe jam and inner section 25. Such doors are quite conventional and ifprovided with the torsion spring 25, will be closed by tension of thespring when the sections are released;

With this structure, I employ an embodiment of my mechanism, the casing61) suitably supported from an overhanging horizontal bracket 39 andbeing mounted in position for the bevelled retaining bolt I2 to engage astriker plate at the upper edge of the outer door section 2'! to cam theretaining bolt I2 upwardly in the opening movement of the door, wherebythe door will be 'held in collapsed position against the action oftorsion spring 26 and retained behind the bolt I2. Thus, in theadaptation of my invention shown in Fig. 4, the door is manuallyoperated by ordinary sliding and folding movement of the door at the endof its opening operation, actuating my mechanism by retraction of boltI2 and set ting the motor and time mechanism in operation. The door willthus be held open with the lamp L illuminated, for a period of time andthereafter, when the retaining bolt I2 is tripped, will release thesectional door for closing actuation through the medium of the torsionspring 25.

From. the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided a simple,compact and highly efficient mechanism for accomplishing the purposesenumerated herein. The electric motor utilized, may be small and ifdesired, of the inexpensive induction type since its speed is materiallyreduced and its power multiplied by the reduction gear trains housed incase 8.

It will of course, be understood that various changes may be made in theform, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts withoutdeparting from the scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical, time controlled, release mechanism having incombination, an electric motor, transmission mechanism for reducing thespeed and multiplying the power of said motor, said transmissionmechanism having a rotary power take-off shaft provided with anactuating element, a retractable retaining member, means for urging saidretaining member to protracted position, an actuated element connectedwith said retaining member and adapted to be actuated to retract saidretaining member during a small portion of the cycle of operation ofsaid power take-off shaft said retaining member being also retractableby mechanical pushing action against the outer end thereof electricalswitch for controlling said motor circuit and connections between saidretaining member and said switch for opening said switch each time saidpower take-off shaftcompletes a full cycle of operation.

2. An electrical, time control, release mechanism having in combination,an electric motor, transmission mechanism for reducing the speed andmultiplying the power of said motor, said transmission mechanism havinga rotary power take-01f shaft, a retractable retaining member, means forurging said retaining member to protracted position, an actuated elementconnected with said retaining member, an actuating element connectedwith said power take-ofi shaft and adapted to actuate said actuatedelement during a small portion of the'cycle of said power takeoff shaft,said retaining member being also retractable by mechanical cammingaction against the retaining end thereof, a two-cycle electrical switchfor controlling said motor circuit and mechanical connections betweensaid retaining member and said switch for producing a full cycleoperation of said switch, each time said retaining member is retracted.

3. An electrical, time controlled, release mechanism having incombination an electric motor, speed reduction mechanism connected withthe armature shaft of said motor and having a rotary power take-offshaft, a retractable retaining member, movable in a path disposedsubstantially perpendicular to the axis of said power take-01f shaftmeans for urging said retaining member to protracted position, saidretaining member being also retractable by mechanical pushing actionagainst the outer end thereof, operating connections between said powershaft and said retaining member for retracting said retaining memberduring a small portion only of the revolution of said power shaft, anelectrical switch for controlling said motor circuit and connectionsbetween said retaining member and said switch for opening said switch,each time said power shaft completes a predetermined turning operation.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3, wherein said operatingconnections comprise a laterally extending, actuating arm connected withsaid power take-off shaft and a striker member connected with saidretaining member and disposed in the path of revolution of said arm.

5. In folding, sectional closure construction, a multi-sec'tion closurewith hinges between at least a pair of said sections, one of saidsections havat its opposite edge, torsional means associatedwith saidhinged connection for normally urging said sections into out-spread,closed position and an electrical time controlled, retaining and releasedevice comprising a retractable retaining element disposed substantiallyperpendicular to the general path of movement of said closure sectionsand having a bevelled end for producing retraction thereof upon strikeraction of one of said sections in the closure opening movement, meansfor normally urging said retainer member to protracted position, timecontrolled means having a revolving actuating element and a strikerelement connected with said retaining member and positioned in the orbitof said actuating element to be engaged and lifted momentarily duringthe revolution of said actuating element, thereby momentarily retractingsaid retainer element.

6. The structure set forth in claim 5 wherein said time controlled meansincludes an electric motor and a switch for controlling said motorcircuit and of the type requiring a cycle of operation to close thecircuit and another similar cycle of operation to open the circuit andmechanical connections between said retaining element and said switchfor producing a full cycle operation of said switch, each time saidretaining element is retracted.

'7. An electrical, time controlled, release mechanism having incombination an electric motor, speed reduction mechanism connected withthe armature shaft of said motor and having a rotary power take-offshaft, a retractable retaining member, movable in a path disposedsubstantially perpendicular to the axis Of said power take-off shaft andhaving a bevelled outer end for producing retraction thereof, means forurging said retainer member to protracted position, a substantiallyradial actuating arm fixed to said power take-off shaft, a strikerelement connected with the inner portion of said retaining member andpositioned in the orbit of said actuating arm and a switch forcontrolling said motor circuit and connections between said switch andsaid retractable retaining member for alternately closing and openingsaid motor circuit upon successive retractions of said retaining member.

8. The structure set forth in claim 7 wherein said switch comprises amovable contact carry-' ing member progressible from a circuit closingto a circuit opening position and a reciproca'ble lever for progressingsaid contact carrying member throughone step during each reciprocationand a switch actuating element carried by said retaining member foractuating said lever each time said retaining member is retracted.

RUSSELL SABOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,106,042 Stark Jan. 18, 19382,175,634 McQuillen Oct. 10, 1939 1,724,228 Steiner Aug. 13, 19291,286,858 Wendel et al Dec. 3, 1918

